Surface-contact structure.



l w. s. PoTTER. SURFACE CONTACT STRUCTURE.

(Application med Feb. 2s, 1901.)

- APalte'ted Nov; 4, |902.

Wnneses; Inventor- WiUarhjB-Potber @Nite-*D STATESl PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. POTTER, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEN- ERALELECTRIC COMPANY, A,CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SURFACE-CONTACT STRUCTURE.

ESPLEGIEICATEGN fcrrmhng part of Letters Patent No. 713,015, datedNovember 4, 1902.

Original application iiled October ll, 1897, Serial No. 654,793. Dividedand this application led February 28,1901. Serial Y IIa/19,220. (Nomodel.)

This a division of the application for pat-v ent, Serial No. 654,793,filed October ll, 1897, and the invention relates to anovel constructionof surface-contact stud adapted for use in sectional-conductor electricrailways.

The drawing is a vertical section of the entire structure, showing thestud itself in ele- A vation.

It is important in structures of this characl ter that the stud shouldbe securely mounted in its operative position, so that it will not bedisturbed or rendered inoperative by heavy city traffic and theengagementof collectorshoes, and at the Sametime that the studv shouldbe adapted for ready removal when its upper surface is worn or it isdamaged in any respect. Furthermore, it is especially important that thestud should be in good electrical contact with the lower connections orleads, and this contact should be such that the stud can be readilyremoved for thepurpose of inspecting the connections.

In the drawing the stud R is shown in ele-v vation and as having anenlarged head or but- .ton H, which is exposed in the roadway andadapted to be engaged by the collector of the car. The entire stud, withthe exception of the exposed upper-surface and lower projection, isembedded in or surrounded by a body of insulation S, such as vitriliedbrick. The stud and insulation together are adapted to be moved andreplaced independently of all other parts of the structure.

P represents .a suitable metallic tie, on which is mounted a receptacleTby means of bolts B, in which receptacle the block of insulation S isheld bysuitable material C, such as cement. The roadway is built uparound the block S, so that only its upper surface is exposed, and whenit is desired to remove the stud the block S is simply loosened in thereceptacle T and lifted up.

Suitably located, as in a compartment Jformed by the metallic tie P, isan insulatingbase Q, formed with an upper opening of two diierentdiameters. A metallic support Q2 rests ou the shoulder formed in theupper opening of the insulating-base, and to this` support are securedthe flanges E of a contact-sleeve Q. This sleeve Q' is adapted toreceive the depending projection R of the stud R, and its upper edge Ois made flaring, so that the projection R' will be properly guided intothe sleeve when the block S is inserted in the receptacle T. The sleeveis split, as shown at L, in order that it may expand when the projectionR enters it and `hold the projections with a spring-grip in goodelectrical contact. The lower flanges F are secured to the support Q bymeans of bolts M, the heads ofvwhich are located in the portion of theupper opening in theinsulating-base Q which has a small diameter.

The right-hand bolt and nut, which hold the iiange to the support, alsoconstitute a binding-post for the lead 1, which completes the circuitconnection of the stud. It will thus be seen that when the stud B., withits surrounding insulation S, is inserted in the receptacle T its'lowerprojection R will engage the upper Haring edge O of the split sleeve, sothat theprojection R will be guided centrally in the sleeves and will beheld therein with good electrical contact. Whenever itis desired toremove the stud when its upper working surface is worn or the stud isotherwise inoperative, it can be removed to automatically break thecontact of the stud wlth the lead l. A further advantage of the readyremovability ot the stud and its insulation is that it leaves the lowerconnection parts in lfull view for the purposes of inspection orrepairs.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by- Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

l. In a removable surface-contact, a metallic stud surrounded byinsulating material, in combination with a support, a terminal securedbeneath said support, and a projection on the stud arranged to makeelectrical contact with said terminal.

2. In a removable su rface contact, the com- IOO bination of a metalstud having an enlarged head, molded insulating material surrounding thestud, a metal base for the insulating material adapted to be bolted to across-tie, a terminal secured within the tie and connected to the sourceof supply, anda projection on the stud arranged to make electricalcontact with the terminal.

3. In aremovablc surface contact, the combination of a central metalstud having enlarged ends, insulating material around the stud, a metalbase for the insulating material bolted to the cross-tie, an insulatingterminal support secu red to the cross-tie, an upwardlyextending contactcarried by the support, means for securing the lead from the source ofsupply, and a projection on the stud arranged to establish connectionwith the con. tact.

4. A surface-contact stud having integral enlarged ends, and havinginsulating material molded about it, so that only its two ends projectfrom the insulation.

5. In combination, a hollow split metallic sleeve, and a surface-contactstud removably mounted therein.

6. In combination, a hollow split metallic sleeve, a surface-contactstud having insulating material molded about it, so that only7 its twoends project, the lower end being adapted to engage in the hollowsleeve; and a sepa-`V rate support for the insulatinggnaterial.

7. A single removable structure for surface-contact railways, whichcomprises a contact-stud having enlarged ends and its surroundinginsulation, said insulation being molded about said stud.

8. Asurface-contactstudsurroundedbyinsulating material and projectingdownwardly therethrough, in combination with means for connecting theprojecting portion with the circuit-lead and an independent support forsaid connecting means.

9. The combination with a removable surface-contact stud, havingintegral enlarged ends embedded in insulating material, of a leadcarried out from the bottom.

10. In combination with a surface-contact stud, a terminalwhichcomprises a hollow split metallic sleeve, and a lead securedthereto.

11. In combination with a surface-contact stud, a terminal whichcomprises a hollow split metallic sleeve having a flaring upper edge.

12. In combination with a surface-contact stud, a terminal whichcomprises a hollow split metallic sleeve provided with flanges, and abase-plate to which said flanges are secured.

13. A terminal for a surface-contact stud, which comprises a hollowsplit metallic sleeve provided with flanges, a connecting-lead, abase-plate, and means for securing said parts together.

14. A terminal for a surface-contact stud, which comprises aninsulating-base, anda metallic sleeve secured thereto, and adapted toreceive the lower end of the stud.

15. A terminal for a surface-contact stud, which comprises aninsulating-base, a metallic support thereon, and a metallic sleevehaving flanges which are secured to said support.

16. In a removable surface contact, the combination of a stud ofconducting material surrounded by insulating material and having itsends projecting therefrom, of a terminal comprising a split metallicsleeve pro- 4vided with flanges, a connecting-lead, a baseplate, andmeans for securing said parts together.

17. In a removable surface contact, the combination of a stud ofconducting material surrounded by insulating material and having itsends extending therethrough, a support for said insulating material andstud, a terminal adapted to receive one end of said stud, and a separatesupport for said terminal.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day ofFebruary, 1901.

WILLIAM B. POTTER.

Vitnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, EDWARD WILLIAMS, J r.

